Anger

This is the first of the three part series on ANGER. I am trying to address an issue which is very pertinent for all of us (no exceptions). i would be covering what, why, & how of anger and its management. i hope some of us derive value from it.

It is your first day at work. You get up early complete your morning routines & are ready to go to work wearing your new shirt. Just then your servant accidentally spills tea on you. What do you do? You are a housewife, a mother. You are going to pick up your child in school when a big procession blocks your way & you are stuck for half an hour. How do you react?
Under these circumstances, a normal person would react in frustration and anger not knowing that it will only harm and worsen the situation. As lifestyles become increasingly hectic, more & more people are short-tempered and small incidents can irritate, enrage & provoke. Anger is a defense mechanism we use when we sense that someone is encroaching upon us.

Why do we get angry?
Habit – by watching & imitating the behaviour of our care-givers or our parents.
To gain control
To get what we want
To protect ourselves against real feelings or bad memories

To hide our feelings
To get others to help us
To avoid responsibility
To protect ourselves against real or imagined threats

The first step is to become aware that yes, you are vulnerable and you DO get angry off & on. Yoga also stresses a lot on self-awareness. Without it you just can't move ahead. So this week, just try and be aware (if possible note down) when you got angry, the reason for your anger and how you felt later.

Someone's rightly said that even the longest of journeys begin with the smallest of steps.